HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-06-2012 Park Board MinutesPark Board Meeting – August 6 , 2012 Minutes 1 The August 6 , 2012 City of Lino Lakes Park Board meeting was called to order at 6:33 p.m. by Chair George Lindy . Roll call was taken; members present were, George Lindy, Bill Kusterman, Richard Jensen, Pat Huelman , Charles Evans and Byron Roland. Member s absent w as Matt Koehn . Also present was Rick DeGardner, Public Services Director and Sandie Wood, Public Services Department Office Tech II . 2 . APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM March 5, 2012 : Richard Jensen made a motion to approve the March 5, 2012 minutes. Byron Roland seconded the motion and the minutes were approved as written. 3 . SETTING AGENDA: There were no changes to the agenda. 4 . OPEN MIKE: There was no one present for open mike. 5. Discuss Council Member Dale Stoesz’ Proposal for Geocaching i n Neighborhood Parks: Rick reviewed the staff report , to the City Council , that was included in the Park Members packets. Staff report was as follows: Background CouncilmemberAStoeszAhasArequestedAthatAtheACityAformallyAimplementA“geocaching”A throughout the Lino Lakes Parks System. Geocaching is a relatively new outdoor recreation activity that blends modern -day navigation technology with the concept of treasure hunting. Geocaching is initiated by an individual hiding a cache, normally a waterproof conta iner with small items inside, then recording the location with a Global Positioning Unit (GPS). The cache may be in a hollow log or under an object. The individual then posts the GPS coordinates, along with a description of the cache on the geocaching web site ( www.geocaching.com ). Other individuals then try to find the cache. When it is located, they sign a logbook, then take or leave a small item. The Anoka County Parks Department began a geocaching program in 2009 and currently provides geocaching at six Regional Parks including the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve (http://www.anokacountyparks.com/recreation/geocaching.html ).
Park Board Meeting – August 6 , 2012 Minutes 2 Ano ka County has certain rules/restrictions in place including: All caches must be approved and registered by the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department. Unregistered caches will be removed. Caches must not be buried and must be accessible from a stan ding position. Caches must be placed at least ¼ mile apart. Caches must be located within the designated geocaching park areas at Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, Riverfront Regional Park, Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Bunker Hills Regional Park, Rum River Central Regional Park, and Lake George Regional Park. Caches are not allowed in picnic areas, play areas, golf course, water park, beaches, or campgrounds. If the City Council wishes to formalize a geocaching program throughout our parks syste m, I recommend that city staff determine suitable locations for placement of the caches, rather than nokaACounty’sAmodelAofApermittingAgeocachersAtheAabilityAtoAplaceAtheirAownAcaches.A Most of our neighborhood parks are relatively small and are developed for activities geared specifically for neighborhoodAuse.AAInvitingAexplorersAtoAsearchAforAcachesAinA“natural”AareasAnearAresident’sA backyards may create some anxiety/conflict. Two Options: 1. Keep status quo. With Anoka County offering an established geoca ching program within the 5,500 acre Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Parks Reserve, area residents already have a wonderful opportunity to experience this activity. In addition, the www.geocaching.com website currently identifies 60 caches within two miles of the 55014AareaAcode.AAStaffAcanAincorporateAgeocachingAinformationAonAtheACity’sAwebsiteA referringAinterestedAresidentsAtoA nokaACounty’sAwebsiteAandA www.geocaching.com . 2. Ci ty formalizes geocaching program. Staff identifies suitable locations throughout our parks and trails system. We would inform local geocachers that all existing caches located on city property must be removed. We may seek assistance with local geocachers to determine suitable locations, place the caches, acquire accurate coordinates, address ongoing maintenance, etc. Staff would need to create/maintain a registryAonAtheACity’sAwebsite. Requested Council Direction Does the City Council wish to direct staf f to develop our own geocache program? If so, we will begin implementing a geocache program immediate
Park Board Meeting – August 6 , 2012 Minutes 3 Park Board Discussion The Park Board Members discussed how Anoka County and the City of Hugo implement their geocaching program s . Rick told them that Hu goAisn’tAasAdetailedAasAtheAcounty.AAHeAsaidAthatA Councilmember Stoesz would like the City of Lino Lakes geocaching program to be like Anoka County’s. Park Board Members said that Lino Lakes ’ parksAdon’tAhaveAadequateAparking,A most of the parks are too sm all, generally houses are located on four sides of the parks (privacy) and we do not want people in non -maintained areas. The y also said that the park boundaries are not marked and that they blend into the resident’s yards. They talked about what park wo uld and would not be suitable for geocaching. Members wondered if thisAprogramAmakesAtheAcommunityAmoreAdesirableAtoAliveAin,Aisn’tAthereA enough recreation programs and leisure space already in the city and why do we need to do this. They feel this is a problem and that city staff would have to check every cache t hat was placed in Lino Lakes. They wondered if the city has enough staff and money in the budget to do a program like this. They thought that if this program was implemented maybe the city coul d get an Eagle Scout, boy scout troop or high school student to do it. Members felt this program was more than the city could do. ThereAwasAalsoAdiscussionAaboutAplacingAtheAinformationAonAtheAcity’sAwebsite.AATheyAwantedAtoA know who was going to be doin g it and who would police it. In general the members felt that this should not be done implemented by the city. There is already a website that has been created for people that like to do geochaching and that it should just be done from that site. They d on’tAthinkAtheAcityAshouldA get involved or establish city rules unless there becomes a problem with this within the city. 6 . REVIEW RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATE: RickAreviewedAtheAupdateAincludedAinAtheAmember’sApackets.AAHeAtalkedAaboutA the success of t he P rincess P arty, S pring F ling and puppet shows . He said there were approximately 420 participants in the Summer P layground P rogram. He told members that the second annual Family Corn Roast and Community Night was held on August 2 at Sunrise Park. It was another great success with approximately 500 people participating. A couple board members said they had attended and thought the turnout was great and the music was fantastic. Mr. DeGardner told the board that the registration for football and socce r is currently taking place and that the numbers were up slightly from last year. He went on to say that T -Ball ended with approximately 170 kids aging from 3 -6 in the programs. Rick asked members to read the update and contact him if they had any questio ns.
Park Board Meeting – August 6 , 2012 Minutes 4 7. OLD BUSINESS: Rick told Park Board Members that the grant for the recreation complex has been rejected. He said there were 3.2 million dollars in request and that only $365,000 was funded. 8 . NEW BUSINESS a. 2011 -2012 Warming House Report Rick went over the memo from Brian Hronski. The 2011 -12AwarmingAhouseAandAskatingAseasonAwasAtheAworstAwe’veAseenAinArecentAyears.AA With a late opening date and an early closing we had an extremely short season. When we had iceAitAwasn’tAnearAtheAqualityAasAw e’veAhadAinAyearsApriorAdueAtoAtheAfluxuationAofAtemperaturesA and ice making conditions. Our ice season kicked off on Friday January 13 th whichAwasAtheAlatestAwe’veAopenedAinAmanyA years. Not being open over winter break is always a big disappointment bec auseAthat’sAwhenA we have the highest number of skaters and the kids are out of school. Even opening when we didAtheAiceAwasn’tAinAtopAconditionAbutAweAfeltAweAneededAtoAopenAandAtryAtoAgetAtheAskatingA season started. After being open for 2 weeks we hit a nother huge warm spell which really hurt our ice conditions. The warm spell lasted from February 1 st – 8 th and we were forced to close the warming houses during that time. With the damage to the ice from the warm weather we were lucky to squeeze another 10 days of the skating season. Once we reopened the rinks the conditions were poor as frost boils started cover the ice surface. We closed for the season on Saturday February 18 th . As in past years the Centennial Hockey Association again used our rinks for youth hockey practices. I noticed a reduced number of teams signing up for practice time and we had some holesAinAtheACYH Aschedule.AAI’mAhopingAthisAwasAjustAaAoneAyearAtrendAthatAwillAchangeAnextA year. Joe Gratz who is the outdoor ice coordinator f or CYHA was in communication with me prior to the season and did a nice job getting me schedules in a timely fashion. gainAthisAyearAweAhadApartAtimeAmaintenanceAstaffAcleanASunriseAandABirchAPark’sArinksAonA Saturday mornings. This was again a nice serv ice to provide especially at the rinks with higher use. Not cleaning the rinks at all over the weekend really lessons the skating conditions. Don Jensen again helped in weekend ice maintenance. We had 2 incidents during the skating season and both occur red at Sunrise Park. The first incident happened on Thursday February 9 th and one of the warming house attendants shot a puck over the boards and broke a car window. The gentleman was parked right by the side warming house door and was parked in a less t han ideal spot. The other incident happened when one of our snack and skate participants tripped while skating and split their chin open. That child required stitches and was ok.
Park Board Meeting – August 6 , 2012 Minutes 5 Although the season was brief in days our hourly skater numbers increased at all three sites. Birch Park averaged 7.04, Sunrise Park averaged 12.8, and City Hall Park averaged 7.99 skaters per hour. Those numbers indicate that our skating rinks and warming houses are still a very popular winter recreation option here in Lino L akes. My hope is for next year we have many more days to enjoy the skating season. Rick said Brian hopes to do the same hours and locations this coming skating season. NEXT PARK BOARD MEETING: The next Park Board Meeting will be a BBQ (pizza & pop)an d Park Tour on Tues day, September 4 , 2012 , at 6:30p.m. ADJOURN: Pat Huelman made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Richard Jensen. The meeting was adjourned at 6 :5 8 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Sandra Wood Public Services Office Tech II These minut es were approved at the June 12, 2013 Park Board Meeting.